Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



11. W. TAUSONL MAIL BAG CATGHBR AND DELIVERBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..26,1911.

995,202. Patented June 13, 1911.

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R. TAUSON.

MAIL BAG CATGHER AND DELIVERER. APBLIOATION FILED 111111.25, 1911.

995,202. Patented June 13, 1911.

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REINHOLD W. TAUSON, OF TEXAS CITY, TEXAS.

MAIL-BAG GATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1911.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Serial No. 616,907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REINI-IOLD W. TAUSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at;

Texas City, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented new and usefication.

This invention relates to devices for catching and delivering mail. bags, and it has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device for delivering mail bags from a moving train to a catching device at a station, or'

vice versa, the parts of the device being so arranged as to be readily interchangeable.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the class described in which the mail bag is connected with a socket member adapted to be detachably connected with an expansible ball member whereby it may be suspended in position to be received by a catching device of simple construction;

with these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the in vention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a railroad car and the delivery device applied thereto, the receiving device being shown in connection with a post or upright alongside the track. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the parts in operative relation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in section of the delivery device.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The delivery member of the improved device comprises a shank 1 having at its upper end an approximately spherical socket member 2 which is open at its upper extremity for the admission of a resilient engaging member which is composed of two opposed arcuate or hook-shaped members 8, 3 which are pivotally connected by a pin or bolt 4 with the lower end. of a supporting member 5 which is bifurcated to receive the upper ends of the members 3 which are on larged to form heads 6 provided with eyes or apertures for the passageof the pivotal member 4. The arcuate members 3, 3 are normally forced apart by the action of a spring 7 which is supported upon studs 8 that project inwardly from the members 8. The delivery member includes a shank portion 9 having an aperture 10 for the reception of a key or fastening member 11.

The receiving member of the improved device consists of a fork 12 of suitable shape and dimensions, said fork being provided with a terminal supporting plate 13 having apertures for the passage of fastening members, such as bolts 14.

Suitably associated with the frame structure of a railroad car C are vertically ad 7 justable guide members consisting of flange bars 15 having vertically disposed ears or lugs 16 provided with vertical slots 17 for the passage of fastening members, such as bolts 18, whereby the flange bars may be secured at the proper vertical adjustment to include between them a slide bar 19 having a handle 20 which projects through a slot 21 in one of the flange bars. The slide bar 19 may be manipulated by the, handle 20, and the slot 21 limits the movement, said slot being so disposed as to permit the slide bar to'be projected to the desired point or to be retracted within the car.

At a suitable point along the track is erected a post D having adjacent to its upper end a vertical slot 22 in which a horizontally extending arm 23 is vertically and laterally adjustable; fastening members, such as bolts 24:, being provided to engage notches or recesses 25 in the upper and lower faces of the arm. Auxiliary bolt holes 26 are also provided to enable the fastening members 24 to be moved upward or downward to efiect any desirable vertical adjustment of the horizontal arm 23.

The slide bar 19 and the horizontal arm 23 are each provided adjacent to their outer ends with a vertical aperture 27 and with horizontal apertures 28, the former being for the reception of the shank portion 9 of the delivery member 5, while the apertures 28 will accommodate the fastening members in position. It will thus be seen that the delivery member and the receiving member may very easily and interchangeably be applied to the slide bar 19 and to the horizontal arm 23, thus enabling mail matter to be transferred from a car to a station, or vice versa, as may be required.

The shank portion 1 of the delivery member is provided at its lower end with a swivel eye 29 with whichthe mail bag M may be connected by means of a link or snap hook .30.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. It will be seen that the mail bag may be practically completely filled with mail matter, after which it is tied securely and equipped with the supporting member 30. Said sup porting member is connected with the swivel eye 29 of the delivery member which may be connected either with the slide bar 19 or with the horizontal arm 23, the receiving fork 12 being connected with the other of said members. Assuming the mail bag to be supportedat the end of the slide bar 19, as seen in the drawings hereto attached, the said slide bar is projected at the proper point so as to support the delivery apparatus in the path of the receiving fork 12 which is connected with the horizontal arm 23. The fork 12 will engage the shank 1 directly below the enlarged bulb or spherical portion 2, detaching the same from the expanding device formed by the spring actuated jaws 3. The latter may be readily compressed by hand sufiiciently to enable them to be inserted into the socket 2 when the parts are to be assembled.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

"1. In a device of the character described, a delivery member comprising a shank portion having a swivel eye at its lower end and an'enlarged spherical bulb constituting a socket at its upper end, in combination with a suitably supported expanding member comprising a shank portion, arcuate jaws pivotally connected therewith and having inwardly projecting lugs, and an expansion spring supported upon said lugs to force the jaws apart.

2. In a device of the character described, a slide bar, vertically adjustable supporting means for the same including a pair of flange bars, one of which is provided with a longitudinal slot, a handle member associated with the slide bar and extending through the slot, a post or upright, a horizontal arm associated therewith for vertical and lateral adjustment, a delivery member including a shank portion having a spherical socket, an expansion member detachably engaging the socket, a bifurcated receiving member, and means for detachably and interchangeably connecting the delivery member and the receiving member with the slide bar and with the horizontal arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. O. 

